24 December 2008

Christmas Comes Early!

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On the advice of the Police, Christmas came to the Church where we attended the Vigil Mass at 5.00 pm. They could spare a patrol to look after the parked cars while we were at Mass, but the policemen would be busy later with thieves and drunks. So it's been Christmas with us for ages already. A very merry Christmas to all!

I found a new translation of Adeste Fideles just before I went to Mass. No doubt you all know it already: no doubt you're wondering "How come he doesn't know this?"; but this evening I read this for the first time, and read the message of the hymn in a new light.

O come all ye faithful!
Triumphantly sing!
Come see in the manger
The Angels' dread King!
To Bethlehem hasten
With joyful accord;
Oh hasten! oh hasten!
To worship the Lord.

True Son of the Father,
he comes from the skies;
The womb of the Virgin
He did not despise;
Not made but begotten,
The Lord of all might,
True God of true God,
True Light of true light.

Hark! to the Angels,
All singing to Heaven,
"To God in the highest
High glory be given."

To Thee, then, O Jesus,
This day of Thy birth,
Be glory and honour
Through Heaven and earth!
True Godhead incarnate,
Omnipotent! Word,
Oh, hasten! oh hasten!
To worship the Lord.

God's Blessings to you all!

3 comments:

JARay said...

Yes, I like it Ttony...but is it all there?
Verse three looks a little short.
Or does it continue:-
O come let us adore him
etc?
Thanks anyway and God's blessings to you also.

JARay

Anonymous said...

Better I think is this full version, with three extra verses after the usual vv 1-3:

4. See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps; Chorus

5 Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.
Chorus

6. Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?
Chorus

7. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.
Chorus

Ttony said...

I was thinking about how a different translation had brought new life to old words. These three verses Anon has quoted are completely new to me.